Today our Church commemorates the Apodosis of the feast of the Epiphany, marking the culmination of the holiday. The baptism of Christ the Savior in the Jordan River sanctifies all of nature, and mankind is enlightened by the true light, Jesus Christ Himself. Through the grace of the Holy Trinity, the joyful message of the salvation of humanity by God permeates and illuminates all.
Today, we also honor the memory of St. Nina Equal to the Apostles, who hailed from Cappadocia and was martyred in Georgia, where her tomb is situated.
We also remember the 38 Holy Fathers Massacred at Mount Sinai and Raitho, Venerable Theodoulos, Venerable Stephanos of Khinolakkos, and Venerable Agni, along with Venerable Sava, the first Serbian Archbishop and founder of the Hilandar Monastery on Mount Athos.
Venerable Sava, born in the late 12th century, was the second son of Serbian Grand Prince Stefan Nemanja and Ana. He displayed a strong inclination towards morality and virtue from a young age and devoted himself to a life of Christian love. At 17, he became a monk at Mount Athos with the approval of his father, taking on the name Sava in honor of the Great ascetic of the Desert.
Subsequently, his father also joined him at Mount Athos, with other Serbians following suit. This led to the establishment of the Serbian Hilandar Monastery around 1195 AD, at the behest of Venerable Sava.
Venerable Sava was known for his compassion, generosity, and aid to the less fortunate. He later undertook a pilgrimage to the Holy Land before returning spiritually fortified to Serbia to bolster the faith of his fellow Orthodox Serbs. He was eventually appointed Archbishop of Serbia and passed away peacefully in Tarnovo in 1236 after fulfilling his divine duties. His holy relic, though discovered intact, was unfortunately destroyed by Sinan Pasha in Belgrade in 1594.
It took 40 years for Serbian Orthodox Christians to construct the magnificent St. Savva Temple in central Belgrade. The temple complex includes subterranean chapels, grand halls, and the tombs of hierarchs and patriarchs. Standing at a height of 77 meters, it ranks among the largest temples in the Balkans, serving as a beacon for devout Serbian Christians.
Source: Church of Cyprus